An official investigation has found that the Metropolitan Police is breaking laws aimed at stamping out racism.

The Met heads a list of 14 forces found by the Commission for Racial Equality to have race equality plans so poor that they fall foul of the law.

Government Response: Home Office

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "We will be considering the report carefully and positively and will issue a formal response in due course.

"We are committed to targeting racism not just in the police force but in all public services."

Forum Response: Association of Chief Police Officers

Matt Baggott, ACPO spokesman on race and diversity issues and chief constable of Leicestershire Constabulary, said: "ACPO welcomes this report of emerging issues arising from the investigation and acknowledgement of progress made in the past five years. 

"Indeed, the emerging issues mirror the areas highlighted by ACPO in its submission to the investigation, issues that are currently the subject of our own intense scrutiny and self audit.

"We also welcome the acknowledgement that race equality schemes are relatively new and all public bodies, including the CRE, are on a steep learning curve. We know however, that significant challenges remain.

"There are real opportunities to tighten both the content and oversight of race equality schemes and the effectiveness of recruitment training and misconduct processes. 

"We shall be using every opportunity through police reform to work with the Home Office and the CRE to bring about the necessary changes and consistency. This work must take place now and not wait for the next stage of the investigation to report in January.

"Tighter procedures have already been introduced and proposals regarding the future of training already submitted, but we know they can be improved further.